The text here is from the Essex Enquirer which is available on the web, but only as a PDF which is quite difficult to negotiate. What it demonstrates is the court deciding that a child should be adopted after it had been confirmed that the parents were good enough parents for a newer child. This is one of the things that happens that I really do not think is right.

Inept Social Services have written to a mother of five tellingher she is a good parent – despite taking four of her children awayfor adoption. The 33-year-old was told she could keep her fifth child just days before a four-year court battle with Essex County Council ended with her fourth child released for adoption.On Friday, the judge also took the unusual step of insisting theBrentwood woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, begiven regular access to the fourth child when he was re-homed.But on 21 September social services wrote to the woman,whois in a “committed” relationship, stating “no further action” wouldbe taken against a fifth youngster born since the initial proceedingsstarted because their parenting is “good enough”.The letter concluded:“Integration with [the child] is good and he was appropriatelydressed and is regularly fed. Suggest no further action at thistime as parenting is good enough.” Three of the childrenwere successfully released for adoption in 2005 after the countycouncil first took action to remove all four in 2003.The mother called the council officials dealing with the case“hypocrites” with “too much power to ruin lives”.She told The Enquirer:“I’m angry they can do this – it shows thatchildren are being taken away from parents who don’t deserveto lose them. “And they shouldn’t the power to do that. They said I was a goodparent and went on to take my child away anyway.” Her ward councillor BarryAspinell demanded an investigation into Essex County Council’s procedures andparticularly the social worker involved in the case. “These people have gonethrough absolute hell for four years and I’m so angry that things like this are being allowed to happen in my town,” he said.“They’ve clearly said her parenting skills are OK and there’s no problem with her youngest child.” But he praised the court’s “major” decision to grant themother access to one of the children in his adoptive home. Eric Pickles, Tory MP forBrentwood, said: “If this lady would like to get in touch with methen I will be happy to do my best to try and help her.”A spokesman for Essex County Council was unavailable for comment as The Enquirer went to print.

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